Stable mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons and alcohols



Patented Aug. 26, 1930 UNITED STATES "PATENQT OFFICE MATTHEW D. MANN, JR., OF ROSELLE, JERSEY.

'No Drawing.

My invention relates to a composition of matter, and more particularly a composition of liquid character. Specifically my invention relates to stable mixtures of petroleum hydrocarbons and a secondary alcohol with or without a primary alcohol as desired, the mixtures being obtained Without the addition of any blending means other than that supplied by the secondary alcohol itself. The

10 invention will be fully understood from the following description.

The properties or action of hydrocarbons for some uses are susceptible of modification and improvement by admixture of other components. In particular I have found that secondary alcohols are exceptionally valuable as modifying a ents. These alcohols, hitherto very little noWn as to characteristics, when properly employed with liquid hydrocarbons found in petroleum, afford a range of new and useful solvents, paint and varnish thinners, cleaning and degreasing agents, motor fuels, etc. v

Various of the secondary alcohols (singly. or mixed) may be employed, depending upon the boiling point limitations and particular use in view, and similarly with the petroleum hydrocarbons. For some. combinations the lower secondary alcohols should preferably be especially dehydrated; in the case of secondary butyl and secondary amyl alcohols this maybe simply accomplished b mixing the alcohol with a hydrocarbon, suc as gasoline, and allowing a layer separation to occur, and

then drawing ofl? the alcohol and gasoline from the aqueous layer; but even this is unnecessary with the higher members. The extent to which the dehydration of the alcohol is carried either by the method as outlined'or by any other desirable process depends upon the use to be made of the products. For. most purposes, especially in the case of the lower secondary alcoholssuch as isopropyl and secondary butyl alcohols, a dehydration sufficient to produce a 95-98% alcohol is sufficient, but in some cases the dehydration should be carried out to produce a substantially anhydrous alcohol. I I As an example, I may refer to secondary butyl alcohol and petroleum hydrocarbons of Application filed June 8, 1922. Serial No. 566,881:

the gasoline range. The secondary butyl alcohol, substantially free from water preliminarily if desired or a mixture of secondary alcohols in which secondary butyl is a large component, is mixed with the petroleum hydro'carbons of desired boiling point, but ordinarily preferably between 110 and 450" F. This forms a homogeneous composition in various proportions useful for many purposes. Although miscible in wide proportions, usually from about 5 to of the secondary alcohol is most advantageous. While various petroleum hydrocarbons may be employed, I prefer gasoline on account of its general availability and cheapness. If desired, primary alcohols, especially ethyl alcohol, can be incorporated in addition, the

amounts, as with the case of the secondary alcohols, varying within wide limits depending upon the particular use in view. An 'especial utility enters here from the fact that relatively small proportions of the secondary alcohols suffice for enabling the addition of considerable quantities of undehydrated primary alcohols, even over quite a range oftemperature, and the proportion of the sec ondary alcohol can be closely gaged as required with this in view. A convenient and very generally useful formula, for instance, comprises commercial gasoline secondary butyl alcohol 5%, and ethyl alcohol (of 95% concentration) 15%. This composition will remain homogeneous down to 10 C. or less. As thus seen, the secondary butyl alcohol notonly forms withgasoline hydrocarbons, mixtures which are stable without a blending agent, but when in further combination with a diflicultly blendable primary alcohol such as ethyl alcohol, the secondary alcohol acts as a stabilizer or blending agent therefor.

While in describing my invention I have referred to specific details,'it will be under stood that these are illustrative and in no sense limitative: 'On the contrary the invention is to be regarded as limited only as defined in the following claims, in which it is my intention to claim all inherent novelty as broadly as the prior art permits.

What I claim is:

1. A composition of matter comprising gasoline ethyl alcohol 15% and secondary butyl alcohol 5%. a

2. A composition of matter comprising 80% gasoline, 15% ethyl alcohol, and 5% secondary butyl alcohol containing not more than 5% water.

3. A composition of matter consisting of a I gasoline, secondary butyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol.

4. A composition of matter comprising a gasoline, a primary alcohol, and a secondary alcohol in amount sufi'icient to prevent separation of the primary alcohol at temperatures above 10 C.

5. A composition of matter consisting of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon boiling below 450 F., a secondary alcohol and ethyl alcohol.

6. A composition of matter consisting of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, boiling below 450 F., secondary butyl alcohol and (ethyl alcohol.

7. A composition of matter consisting of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, ethyl alcohol, and secondary butyl alcohol in amount sufiicient to prevent separation of ethyl alcohol at temperatures above 10 C.

8. A composition of matter comprising a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, a primary alcohol, and a secondary alcohol operating as the sole blending agent for said primary alcohol and hydrocarbon. I

' MATTHEW D. MANN,'JR( 

